a history

This is about the history of our line of the Kahn family. Our roots are in Germany, but branches spread to Luxembourg, France, England, Canada, the USA and, perhaps, elsewhere.

The first objective of setting up these pages is to answer unresolved questions, of which there are many. To do this, we now need to make contact with other members of the family so we can share knowledge and perhaps fill in a few gaps.

Our second objective is to make available to others the quite considerable fund of information within our private records – the result of almost 30 years of joint effort by cousins, brothers, sons and fathers. We’d now like to be able to pass on some of this to those for whom our offshoot of the Kahn rootstock could be of interest.

Important: please click on the ‘posts’ tab. That’s where you’ll find our latest blogs and where we’ll publicise any developments. Reading through the archives could be enough to suggest whether or not we are related. If in doubt, take a look at the growing ‘biographies’ section to see if you can find any common link. Even if you decide the relationship is too ancient or distant to prove, some of the articles could help you in your own researches. And perhaps you have useful ideas for us.

We also have an incomplete family tree on ancestry.co.uk. If you’d like to view it, please email for an invitation.

You are very welcome to exchange relevant information with others using our comments’ board, but if you are interested specifically in our branch of the family and have a query, please send an email if possible, otherwise your message could risk being lost on one of the pages. We hope to hear from you.

85 Responses

Hi there,
You are lucky. In the course of my research of the history of the Jewish communities in the Southern Eifel region in Germany I managed to trace the Kahn family of Schweich as well.
As I am in my office right now, I do not have access to my personal files. I will check them at home.
Nevertheless, I recall that two of the siblings of Lazard/Lazarus Kahn, Victor’s father, settled with their families in Welschbillig, Germany. The brother, that you have as “Liebe” was in fact named Leib, later Levy Kahn.
If I am not mistaken Lazard/Lazarus Kahn fathered at least 5 children in Luxembourg, of which 2 were stillborn. I have these details as well.
So much for now. I will get back to you with more details asap.
Best regards,
Stefan Roos
Trier, Germany

Hi Alan,
I am 85 years old and my name is Marcel Kahn, I was born and live in Luxembourg, my father, Sally Kahn, was born in Luxembourg too, in 1889. His father, Raphael Kahn was born in 1847 in Germany, Könen, near Luxembourg. Raphael was married with Henriette Levy from Laufersweil in Germany. The father of Raphael was called Isaac Cahn and was born in Germany, in Freudenburg.
My wife’s maiden name is Lazar, and her parents where born in Germany, Nalbach, in the Saar in 1901 and 1902. Her mothers maiden name was Kahn as well.
I don’t know if we are connected in any way, if this is the Kahn branch that you are looking for, but I thought I would get in touch with you and let you know.
Alle the best from Luxembourg,
Marcel Kahn

Hello Marcel – I have replied to your email address with details of how we could be related, although the information is sketchy and I’ve made a few assumptions which could well be wrong. Please have a look at it and let me know what you think. Thanks for making contact and best wishes/ Alan Kahn

Hello, Marcel
1) My great grandmother Johanetta Kahn, born 26/02/1871 in Freudenburg, was the granddaughter of Salomon Kahn 1799-1861 (Freudenburg), brother of Isaak Kahn 1793-1866, whose son was Raphael Kahn, 1823-1883, with no known children. I wonder whether they are connected to your family.
2) Amalie (Milli) Kahn, born in Luxemburg 7 feb 1880 , wife of my grandfather’s cousin Siegfried Schoemann, and her sister Bertha Kahn, born 3 nov 1883 in Luxemburg, daughters of Michael Kahn and Elizabeth Lazar, both killed in Auschitz 18. april 1944, are they known to you?
If you prefer carrying on this conversation in french, OK

I believe that you are the person who has confused Annette and Mariette Goldschmidt’s husbands. Annette (born 1936) is married to Jean-Louis Rochaix and Mariette (born 1938) is married to Martin Boyle. Their father was my uncle. Please contact me by e-mail if you need more information.

Hi All, tonight is the holocust day in israel. my name ia odelia and my grand father is adi kahn, he passed aeay 8 years ago, he was born in trier Germmny, and his mother elza kahn passed the war and lived the rest of her life in luxemburg, the rest of the family (his father herman and his brother frize didn’t survive, I just know elza was born in 1899 and lived until the age of 94, she was barried in the jewish semitery in lux, if you know the family I will be happy to here info and deatils.
Best
Odelia (cohen)

Hello Odelia – I’m afraid we have no information on your family. We can’t find any link between the two families, other than the name. Have you looked at: http://www.alemannia-judaica.de/index.htm which contains some information about Jews in Trier? If you email Stefan Roose through the website, he might be able to help you. Good luck with your searches/ best wishes/Alan

Odelia, I believe your grandfather is my 2nd cousin based on what you’ve written. If so, I have A LOT of info on your family tree I’d be happy to share. I had his name as Edgar (not Adi); however, his father was Hermann and mother was Elsa (also, the Luxemborg connection matches). Hermann and his brother, Moritz, did not survive the war. We had Edgar (Adi?) immigrating to Israel and marrying a Sabra (presumably, your mother).
Please email me directly: skahn “at” skahn.com

Thanks !
its 10 am Israel time and the memorial alarm is on and I have decided to look at this website, answer I have to say I’m in tears!!
yes my grand father full name was Edgar we call him in Hebrew Adi!r
My grandfather used to travel every summer to Luxembourg to visit Elsa his mom and the rest of the family relative who left. i know that elsa sister lived in the usa.
my grand father married Haya preshel who passed away 3 years after him- 7 years ago, this summer its 10 year to his death.
he was amazing grand father, happy person but never talked much about the Holocaust but for every grand child who was born to the family he would say we win! we are alive!!

My grand father had 4 kids hermanne (haim) my father, bracha. afraim and elsa – alisa. we are all total 13 grand children and many many grand grandchildren.

I will be happy to stay in contact and to learn more about the family.

my grand father sign on a witness page at Yad v shem, hemman parents were shopia and issac and he was born on 1888 .

Hello Odelia, my name is Claude Salomon, daughter of Estelle Felicie Salomon-Levy and Bernard (Ben) Salomon from Luxembourg, who went to the US during WWII and returned to Luxembourg in 1975. I live in the USA. Your grandfather Adi, known to us as Edgar, was my mother’s first cousin. Although I never met him, My parents did go to Israel one time and met your grandfather’s family. His mother Elsa Kahn was my mother’s aunt ( a sister of my grandmother Rosalie Levy-Kahn), and I knew her because as I grew up we often went to Luxembourg to visit my uncle Gaston Levy and other mostly Salomon relatives. A very nice lady. My mother died last week at age 98 and I have buried her in my father’s grave in the Jewish Cemetery there. I located Elsa’s grave and cleaned it; it is in good condition. I also knew Elsa’s brother-law Joseph Kahn (Adi’s uncle) who emigrated from Germany to NYC well before WW II. We also have a distant Kahn cousin living in Koblenz Germany named Heinz Kahn, son of Moritz Kahn, your father’s uncle who died during the war.Heinz returned to Germany after WW II and is the head of the Jewish community in Koblenz today. He was recognized by the German government last year I think on his 90th birthday. I don’t know if our Kahn family is related directly to the Kahns identified on this website though. I have been contacted by Stephen Kahn who replied to you and has much more information.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you more about your grandfather’s family. Shalom, Claude Salomon

Hi Claude,
I have just pass my father your answer and we are all excited from the info- we didn’t know much!
can you send me your email?
I will be in Ny next week and will be happy to meet you and your family.

My great grandfather is lazard kahn I have a copy of his transfer papers my grandfather’s name is zack julies kahn and my fathers name is Isaac p kahn I could use some help to fill in the blanks
Kendall tamar kahn

Hi Kendall – so far we’ve traced four sons of our Lazard – Raphael (b. 1818); Salomon (b.1822); Joseph (b.1824) and Victor (b. 1827). We haven’t found any reference to a Zack Julies. Do you have more information about places and dates of birth please?

LAZARD KAHN WAS MARRIED TO JOSEFA ORTEGA THERE SON WAS EDMOND KAHN WHO WAS MARRIED CARLOTTA DE LA GERRA THERE SON WAS ZACK JULIES KAHN WHO WAS MARRIED TO POLLY MARKIN THERE SON WAS ISAAC PATRICK KAHN WHO IS MY FATHER. LAZARD AND JOSEFA WERE MARRIED IN SANTA BARBARA CA ON JULY 9 1875. LAZARD A NATIVE OF FRANCE AND JOSEFA ORTEGA A NATIVE OF NEW MEXICO.

We are from chile and our great grandfather came from poland his name was francisco kokisch diech and he had several sons and daughters. My grandfather was humberto kokisch escobedo. Physician. An during ii world war he received a letter from cousins in liverpool their name were sarah kahn erich kahn and other relatives came to chile. After war ended they returned to urope and israel. We would like to get in touch with them to recover our history.

Hi. My father is Hans Herman Kahn, born in Nurenburg, Germany in 1919. He came to the US in 1938. His brother Fritz was 5 years younger. He traveled to France to “escape,” at age 14; at age 18 he was sent to Drancy and then died in Maideneck (sp). Their father was Max Kahn, born in Simmonhausen and mother was Helen, who died of a heart attack when my father was 14 (before the war). Max was in the metal warehouse businessness in Germany with several cousins. Max remarried (name is registered in the Yad Va Shem archives). Max’s father was Sigmund (? not sure), also from Simmonhausen. Does any of this sound familiar?

I’m trying to track the ancestry of my grandfather, Max Kahn, who we believe was born in Trier, Germany on August 12, 1859. He married Josephine Lion of Spiesen and immigrated to the US in 1893. We know much of Josephine’s family, and nothing of Max’s. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.
Best, Stephen Kahn of San Diego, California.

Hi
My name is Mike Taylor. I am researching my family tree but also the paternal family of my cousin, David Levy, who is a relation of Moses Marks Samuels, the late husband of Emilie Victor Kahn. I think we may both be able to help each other further our knowledge. Please get in touch.

Hello Stephen, My name is Barbara Scott. I have a Crystal Set a pitcher with Six glasses from 1892. It has the name Kahn inscribed in the Crystal with the year 1892. I inherited it from my neighbor 16 years ago in California and would like to see it returned to the Kahn family. I’m 83 years old and not good withe the computer. Please call me at 330-602-6902 if you’d be interested in having it. Thank you, Barbara

Mike – this is rather late, but I can’t trace that I’ve been back to you. Somehow I missed the message entirely. Apologies. If you’d like to talk further, please contact me again using my direct email address: familytree@kahns.co.uk. Best wishes

My Name is Darrell Schwartz my Mother was Irene Kahn her family came over in the early 1900’s before WWII broke out she said that they where related to the Royal Family and we have the Blood Problem that is linked to the family my Great Grandfather was supposed to be in the Calvary in Hungry im not sure of this helps let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.

My grandmother was a Kahn and her family came from Reidseltz in Alsace and settled in Louisiana. Samuel (Schmulen) Kahn was the first to come over, born 1815 to Abraham Kahn and hannah Troutmann. Are any of your family lines traceable to Reidseltz?

My name is Glenn Foreman. I live in Rayne, Louisiana. Abraham Aryeh Kahn and Hannah Trautmann were my 3great grandfather and grandmother. Samuel Schmulen and Brunette Levy were my great great grandfather and grandmother. Their daughter, Camille Schmulen married Mervine Kahn, who were my great grandmother and great grandfather. The former, all on my grandfather, Julian Kahn’s side. Barbe Levi, married to Jacques Goudchaux, were my 3great grandmother and grandfather on my grandmother, Celine Weill’s side. I have more information on both sides that I am happy to share.

Glenn,
I know we are related to Mervine Kahn and the Kahns of Rayne. Estelle Goudchaux, one of Barbe Levi and Jacques Goudchaux’s children married Samuel Kahn of Reidseltz..They were, I think, about my 3rd great grandparents. They came to La. My grandmother, Evelyn Kahn was a child of their son, Henri Kahn and Belle Stern.

Cool, Scott, I found a new relative! Another of Jacques and Barbe’s daughters, Fleurette married Lippman Kahn who was my great great grandfather. Lippman was also a son of Abraham Kahn and Hannah Trautmann. So we are “double” cousins of some degree, I guess.

Three men named Schmulen came to Louisiana from France within a few years of each other. Samuel was the first to arrive then Michael and the last to come, and the youngest was Simon. Michael and Simon were living within a few houses of each other in St. Mary’s Parish, LA. on the 1880 Census.

Michael died in the early 1880s. Simon and his wife Sarah Levy moved with their children to Graves County, Kentucky and are found there on the 1900 Census.

Simon’s death certificate identifies his parents as Isaac Schmulen and Caroline Lieberman. His place of birth is given a Lorraine, France

Hello!
I have just come across you page on the internet, and also I do not belong to your “genealogy” I am fairly close as Adolphe Lévy Hermanos was my great grand father, and apparently the “philipinos” as I tend to call the Levy who left Alsace for the Philippines and Leopold Kahn your great grand father (?) were close, as he ran, I believe the business in Manila and Asia.
I am trying to gather information on how the all thing worked, as apparently they were quite a number of them and not only the three brothers (they were also wives, children, in-laws, etc)
I am trying to sort it out (it is a muddle!) and I would appreciate any help on your side, and of course I am prepare to give you all the information I have here.
Thanks in advance

Joelle Laserre – I’m currently writing an article about the Levy and Kahn family and how they started La Estrella del Norte in Manila. I was wondering if you might have a photo of Adolphe or his brothers Charles and Rafael ? you can write me directly at: ManilaNostalgia@gmail.com

Leopold Kauffmann Kahn was born in Alsace, France in 1870 and came to the Philippines in 1909 to work with thr Levy Brothers. He was President and General Manager, La Estrella del Norte, Levy Hermanos, Inc.; General Manager, Estrella Auto Palace; Director, Metropolitan Theater, Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine Trust Co. President, Chambre de Commerce Francaise Aux Iles Philippines and decorated by Governor Pasquier of French Indo-China as the most notable Frenchman in the Philippine Islands. He died in 1938.

Hello!
I have just come across you page on the internet, and also I do not belong to your “genealogy” I am fairly close as Adolphe Lévy Hermanos was my great grand father, and apparently the “philipinos” as I tend to call the Levy who left Alsace for the Philippines and Leopold Kahn your great grand father (?) were close, as he ran, I believe the business in Manila and Asia.
I am trying to gather information on how the all thing worked, as apparently they were quite a number of them and not only the three brothers (they were also wives, children, in-laws, etc)
I am trying to sort it out (it is a muddle!) and I would appreciate any help on your side, and of course I am prepare to give you all the information I have here.
Thanks in advance

Joelle,
Leopold Kahn was not my great grandfather. Though I am distantly related to a Leopold Kahn who settled in Louisianna. Samuel Kahn my great grat grandfather and his wife were my direct relatives who came from Alsace. He came from Reidseltz, she was a Gatchaux and came from Brumath. I am also directly related to a Barbe Le’vy from Alsace.

Thanks for tho quick answer, so I am all mixed up: I arrived on your page after googling Levy Hermanos, Philippines… so I thought you were the descendants of Leopold Kahn who arrived in the Philippines in 1909 as a General Manager and who apparently developed the business very efficiently. I was trying to figure out how they had come in touch with him, if they were related, etc.
But apparently you are from a different Kahn family! there are so many Kahn’s and Levy’s from this area of Alsace and Germany
Thanks anyway and good luck with you quest!

Joelle, Leopoldo Kahn was my grand father. Yes he worked with the Levy brothers in a business called La Strella del Norte. It was the most prestigious jewelry and watch store in the Philippines. I also believe they were the first to import American cars to the Philippines. What other information are you looking for?

Thanks for your answer, in fact I would have zillions of questions, but I’ll try to constrain myself: The Levy’s were 2 families in fact (even 3) Adolphe, Charles and Raphael were from Marckolsheim. Adolphe was married to Minette (Irma) he died in the Philippines on 13 June 1888 and I have a picture of his grave mentioning his wife Irma and their daughter… I have been looking with no success for the name of this girl, if you happen to know, this would be very helpful.
These 3 Levy had also a sister Eve married to Adolphe from the second Levy family (from Mutzig) and a sister Marie-Mathilde (who was married to a Xavier Levy from Neuf Brisach) They were all in Ilo-Ilo at that time (I think).
Eve dies, and Xavier dies, so Adolphe (from Mutzig) and Marie-Mathilde (from Markolsheim) get married in 1888 and have two children born in Ilo-Ilo, Suzanne in 1885 and Albert (my grand father) in 1886. Then they moved back to France.
So basically, any sort of information you may have would be helpful, ans also I would be interested to know how your grand father and the Levy’s got acquainted, is there any family link? Had they met before the Philippines?
Here is my personal email as there is no need for all this to be on a public website!
Thanks a lotJ.lasserre@aiic.net

Thanks for letting me know Lorraine. We’ve traced a distant link through Nathan Samuels ( the brother of Moses Marks Samuels, husband of Emily Kahn, one of my great aunts). Nathan married Amelia Vineburg Abrahams, one of your line I believe. All the best with your future researches.
regards/Alan

Hi, I saw your message. My family name is Kahn and my grandfather is Jacob Kahn from Jelgava in Latvia. Do your have any connection with Kahn from Jelgava? Please contact me at fabiok.kahn@gmail.com thank u

Hi Denise,,, good to hear from you. Are you related to our branch of the Kahn family? We’d love to hear more from you, especially if we can find the link between us. Please email. best wishes/ Alan Kahn

I am 21 years old. I am pleased by learning about the Kahn gene… I am making family trees, so in the future when I have children 🙂 I can be able to show them where exactly We the Kahn’s come from. I live in Los Angeles C.A. I am interested in my ancestors history and I hope to God I can get information.. thanks guys I appriciate bunches… May God bless All.

Delighted to read that you’re so interested, Denise. We have no record of a Franklin Edward Kahn in our family tree but the Kahn name comes from all over Europe, especially Germany, Russia and France. Do you know where Franklin originated? From his name I guess he was born in USA but do you know where his forebears originated? We’d like to know more.
best wishes/ Alan

Any family here relatives of Dr. Gustav Mason Kahn 1906-1982, Gustav Kahn 1872-1931 (Born in Germany), or Moses Mortiz Kahn 1833-? Also from Germany. I have hit a dead end and would like to find more family.

Hello Danielle – the only Gustav Kahn in this line has different dates (1867 – 1942). He was born in Freudenberg in Germany and married Julia Levy. Moses Moritz I can’t trace, but I have a couple of source books which I’ll look through in case I can find something.If I do, I’ll post the info here. Sorry not to have better news – but keep looking. Best wishes/ Alan Kahn

My father just saw a picture of the Kahn’s Department store from the opening in Hayward, CA in 1955. He says my Grandfather Walter Kahn was cousins with Arnold Kahn and Arnold’s family owned the store. I saw that Israel Kahn was the original owner and came to CA from NY. My family also came from NY to CA. I can’t find any mention of Arnold in the owners or family member of this department store.

One more year pass, the Israeli people is remembering tonight our families that killed over the second world war. in that sad moment I would like to wish you a lot of health and bless you that you will keep tracking to find all our relatives around the world!
odelia

I am just beginning this journey of Genealogy Research. I am quite new and could use any help/suggestions that anyone has to offer. My Great, great grandfather’s name was Alfred Kahn, his daughter was Dora Kahn. His wife’s last name was Best. I have been told through older family members that our extension of the Kahn family emigrated to America from Bavaria in search of work. Nobody had any timeline for that emigration. My best guess would be in the early 1900’s. Most of that side of the family was settled in Pennsylvania. Is there any connection here?

The sole reference I can find to an Alfred Kahn is one born in Freudenburg (part of Bavaria) 22 February 1908 – died 25.08.1990, but I suspect from the record source that he died in Germany. The records do not mention marriage or further details (they are in German and are part of a 600 pages book) and I assume this is the wrong Alfred.

I live in South Africa. I know you people probibly get alot of family/people claiming to be family. I would just like to get in contact with Pauline Kahn, Sams wife. I am sure she is well aware of Sams daughter Gabieba Rakiet who is still living in Cape Town. My Granny is very old wright now and would like to make contact with her dads family.

My name is tucker kahn I’m 23 and living in SF Bay Area , ca. My father is Stuart kahn and his father was named Arthur kahn . Arthur’s father was Harold Kahn and lived in Alaska and later on Seattle WA . Any help in connecting me with my family roots is greatly appreciated. I don’t have much info to go off of so this could be a shot in the dark. Thank you in advance . I’m dying to know where I come from . Just visited Israel and it really got me thinking of my family history and identity. Thanks
Tucker

My daughter has started looking into our family. I am Barbara Jean Kahn Cohen. My father was Joseph Leopoldo Kahn. His first cousin was Louis Isadore Kahn the famous architect who was born as Itze -Leon Schmuilowskyin. Articles have said he adopted the name Kahn. If so my dad’s father must have done the same. My Grandfather was Meyer Kahn. I do not know my grandmother’s name. My father and his siblings were orphaned at an early age. I do not know if we are part of your family. These Kahn’s came from Estonia.

Hi, I saw Leanne Peer message. My family name is Kahn and my grandfather is Jacob Kahn from Jelgava in Latvia. Do your have any connection with Kahnfrom Jelgava? Please contact me at fabiok.kahn@gmail.com thank u